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How can changes in elastic fibers affect skin and blood-vessel walls during old age?

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Collagenous fibers — connective tissue Randomly oriented collagenous fibers of varying size in a thin spread of loose areolar connective tissue (magnified about 370 ×).

During the aging process, changes in elastin and collagen significantly impact the structural integrity of skin and blood-vessel walls.

Effects on Skin

The skin undergoes a gradual loss of elasticity due to a reduction in the number of elastin fibers. Simultaneously, collagen fibers experience an increase in cross-links, which restricts the network's elastic properties. These degenerative changes in the connective tissue contribute to skin laxity, the development of wrinkles, and a reduced ability for the skin to remain adherent to underlying structures.12

Effects on Blood-Vessel Walls

In the cardiovascular system, blood vessels become progressively less elastic with age. This is primarily attributed to the fragmentation of elastin molecules. Additionally, the connective tissue within vessel walls stiffens due to the formation of cross-links within and between collagen fibers. This loss of elasticity increases resistance to blood flow, which can lead to elevated blood pressure and force the heart to work harder to maintain circulation.34